Mold filling of Ti castings using investments with different gas permeability

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this work was to study mold filling during casting of standardized five-unit Ti bridges vs. the gas permeability of the investments. Methods. An Ar arc casting machine with a separate melting and mold chamber was used. Both chambers were evacuated before Ar was introduced into the melting chamber. A rubber sealer was inserted between the top of the steel ring of the mold and the steel floor between the two chambers. The mold cavity required the same Ar pressure as the melting chamber prior to casting. Four different investments for Ti casting were investigated: 1) Bellavest T (BEGO), 2) Rematitan Plus (Dentaurum), 3) Titavest CB (Morita) and 4) Titanium Vest (Ohara Co.). Three castings were made with each investment. The molds were fired according to the manufacturers' instructions and cooled to room temperature. The Ar gas pressures in the two chambers were recorded during casting, and the mold filling was evaluated initially by visual inspection and subsequently by studying the margins of the crowns in a microscope. Results. In the melting and molding chambers, the Ar pressure was found to be: 1) Bellavest T: 400 and 1 torr; 2) Rematitan Plus: 600 and 85 torr; 3) Titavest CB: 600 and 150 torr; and 4) Titanium Vest: 600 and 85 torr, respectively. This indicates substantial differences in the gas permeability of the molds. Bellavest T produced poorly filled molds, Rematitan Plus and Titanium Vest resulted in poor margins and Titavest CB produced complete castings. Significance. Proper mold filling is promoted by investments with a high gas permeability, so the gases in the mold cavity can escape through the investment to the mold chamber.